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P0A80 !! OMG Just bought a used 11' 177k miles. Am I f**ked? =(

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by silvernuke, Aug 21, 2017.

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  1. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The flood gates will open on the gen3 batteries failures....real soon.
     
    #21 JC91006, Aug 22, 2017
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  2. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    Agree 110%, unfortunately.
     
    #22 m.wynn, Aug 22, 2017
  3. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Mines at 140k, maybe I have another 130k miles to go before the HV battery dies. Who knows... but I'm ready, hopefully the HV battery cost will go down when the time comes.
     
    #23 NutzAboutBolts, Aug 22, 2017
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  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Yes hopefully there will be plenty of cheaper options when those batteries start to fail. Battery prices seem to be dropping......Toyota just needs to pass on the savings.
     
    #24 JC91006, Aug 22, 2017
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  5. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    No, not even close. Speak with folks in the battery repair biz for better intel.
     
    #25 fotomoto, Aug 22, 2017
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agree, pretty sure there have been quite a few here, in non carb states.
     
    #26 bisco, Aug 22, 2017
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  7. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Buy the Prolong Harness and maintain the battery;).

    I'd share the Charger and Intelligent Discharger (y).
     
    #27 Raytheeagle, Aug 23, 2017
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  8. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    where's the info for it?
     
    #28 NutzAboutBolts, Aug 23, 2017
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  9. silvernuke

    silvernuke Junior Member

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    You must be the angel that fell out of the sky and now have to deal with us the dreadful mortals!! thanks for extending your help with this matter. Depending on the outcome of all, I will certainly consider this option! :)

    And thanks to many of you for chipping in as well.

    I've spend a good few hours last night watching cleaning hybrid battery cooling fan and replacing battery - but mostly on Gen 2 cars. haven't found any replacement video on Gen 3. Replacing does look a bit of a daunting task!

    Update on the topic. I've talked to the seller today and he swears the car he sold should be mechanically good! He agrees to have his mechanic to take a look at the issue and see if there is anything that can be done. o_O I am a bit skeptical though as I don't know if this 'mechanic' has the knowledge and knowhow in hybrid systems. Would he even be able to open up to the hybrid battery pack and check voltage / clean cooling fan? highly highly doubt it.

    Next order of business tomorrow will be calling Toyota HQ as @bisco suggested. Only 6yrs in, 27k miles out. Perhaps I will just start crying :cry: during the call and hopefully I garner the sympathy from the agent? Let's see what happens.

    And another question is... is it okay to continue to drive the Prius as is as essentially an ICE car??? The car runs just fine but engine is constantly on with hybrid system basically turned off.
     
    #29 silvernuke, Aug 23, 2017
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you can drive it, but if the battery is weak, you may get stranded. you need it to start the engine.
    also, i would make sure the inverter pump is working, by looking in the coolant reservoir for movement while the car is in ready.

    it's definitely worth taking the seller up on his offer, what have you got to lose?
     
    #30 bisco, Aug 23, 2017
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Once you have the right equipment, fixing a HV battery is really not that complicated. I have no idea why other people would charge $1500 to rebuild a battery. I guess it's the same reason a plumber charges $500 to come to your house
     
    #31 JC91006, Aug 23, 2017
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you got those plumbers too?(n)
     
    #32 bisco, Aug 23, 2017
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Plumbers are the worse. My last water heater that leaked for 1 day, they came out and said there's water damage and they need a restoration specialist to come in before they can replace my water heater? I just showed him the door
     
    #33 JC91006, Aug 23, 2017
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  14. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    Pls note the battery doesn't really care about the milage the car was driven ... VERY much depend what driving condition it was driven those mile temperature/stop&go/hills or flat etc. or if it self-discharged during long periods of unuse
     
    #34 szgabor, Aug 23, 2017
  15. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    #35 SFO, Aug 23, 2017
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  16. TinyTim

    TinyTim Active Member

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    The more I read this thread the less it makes sense. You started with all sales are final and you have no recourse. Now you say the private seller swears that the vehicle was in good condition when you purchased the Prius. Why would a private seller have his mechanic look at the vehicle if you have no financial recourse? I have very rarely heard of a car sale where the car breaks down within hours costing thousands in repairs.I used to watch judge Wapner on the People's Court and he used to routinely side with the buyer under these circumstances.

    Your signature says "other hybrid" and you joined in 2009 but only have 12 posts total. I have asked you 2x how much you paid for the Prius. Can you provide us a photograph of the prius as well as a photo of the back seat with the traction battery clearly visible.
     
    #36 TinyTim, Aug 23, 2017
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  17. Just.Drive.It.

    Just.Drive.It. New Member

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    Somebody drove the sh*t outa that car in only 6 yrs? I think you were toast before you even took it off the lot! I would never buy any car with over 100k on the odo. Unless you are rich, and don't mind doing all kinds of repairs. How much did you pay for that beater?

    I usually sign off with just drive it. But in this case you are toast!
     
    #37 Just.Drive.It., Aug 23, 2017
  18. TinyTim

    TinyTim Active Member

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    My previous post was questioning if the OP actually has a Gen 3 Prius with 177K on it. He may be on a fact finding mission using forum members here to research if it would be profitable to purchase Gen 3 Prius with dead traction batteries. Determining the total cost of fixing them and then flipping them. He mentioned his intention was to sell it to an Uber driver friend.

    My other question. Who has a user image with 177,697 miles on it with a picture of a Prius that had only around 10 posts in total since 2009? Even if he created that image himself it would take more time than creating a PriusChat account and posting 10 posts since 2009.
     
    #38 TinyTim, Aug 23, 2017
  19. silvernuke

    silvernuke Junior Member

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    @TinyTim Yes, I love making things up on internet forums! ;) Who doesnt??? :rolleyes: We all love to watch drama unfolding with pop corn in our hands! :D

    In the meantime.. back to original programming :cool:

    Update
    So... took it back to the seller this morning. - Seller is a private DEALER - First, checked with scanner he had- sure enough P0A80 pops up - Replace Hybrid Battery Pack! Proceed to reset the code and Hybrid system comes back alive! - fully engaging and working! While promising, it doesn't really reveal the cause of of P0A80. Only way to tell seems to be a process of elimination. So I suggested we should check & clean hybrid battery cooling fan with seller's 'mechanic' who was not a proper mechanic but knows how to 'fix stuff' on cars. However, with step-by-step guide by @NutzAboutBolts team on Youtube, we took everything out in no time! The fan was a bit dirty but I didn't think it was that dirty enough to cause the code - but who really knows? Now at least with cleaned up fan, if the car throws the code again, next step will be checking the health of actual hybrid battery, cell be cell.

    And.. to help @TinyTim with his theory, I didn't take any photos of the evidence of all these adventure! I really should have though..

    So... so far, the hybrid system is back to fully operational again - charging, sending power to the wheels, shutting the engine off at stop - but it's like walking on thin ice. I am just not sure if it was a system glitch or the triangle of death will be back to haunt me again for real next time.

    What do you guys think? System glitch? Dirty fan caused the code? or... the root of problem is still lurking and will be back??
     
    #39 silvernuke, Aug 24, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2017
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  20. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I give it 1 day....maybe when you start the car tomorrow. Cleaning the fan will help in preventing a battery failure with better cooling, it won't fix a failure that's already here
     
    #40 JC91006, Aug 24, 2017
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